The group performed to a packed house
Seventies rockers Toto played their debut show at the Hollywood Bowl on Sunday (Sept 1st) to a nearly sold-out crowd. The band, helmed by guitarist and co-lead vocalist Steve Lukather and vocalist Joe Williams, kicked off the 90-minute set with “Girl Goodbye” before getting everyone on their feet with the singalong “Hold The Line.”
The tight band of studio veterans played their legion of hits to a simplistic stage setup that featured a vibrant light show sans video production elements. Their show doesn’t need any flare. The music speaks for itself. Each member brings incredible chops and world-class harmonies to songs that stand the test of time.
“Hollywood Bowl! It’s a dream come true right here,” Luke shared on stage. “When I was a kid in 1973, I was up in the bushes watching Pink Floyd Dark Side of the Moon until they suck the dogs on us and scared us away,” he joked.
Luke paid tribute to Jeff Beck, dedicating Jimi Hendrix’s “Little Wing” to the late guitarist while holding Beck’s white Fender Strat that he said he’s one of a handful of guitarists being asked to play.
“His lovely wife Sandra and his closest friend guitar tech Shon brought this out,” Luke says. “They’ve been bringing out to guitar players to put a little love on it. Jeff and I were friends. We worked together a bunch over the years in the studio and live. They asked a certain amount of guitar players — they’re just getting started — they asked Billy Gibbons, John Mayer, and me, and they’ve probably got a long list. I wish it’d make me sound like Jeff Beck, but it won’t. There’s a lot of mojo in this.”
The night also featured the funky “Georgie Porgy,” “I’ll Supply The Love,” and a special appearance by co-founder David Paich for the final three songs.
The show was a full-circle moment for Williams, who celebrated his 64th birthday on September 1st. His father, Oscar-winning composer John Williams, has conducted live orchestrations of his famous film compositions at the Hollywood Bowl for several decades. It’s unclear if the elder Williams was in attendance, but I’m sure he’s proud knowing his son graced the same stage as he.
The band’s sound was fantastic. It was well-balanced and mixed perfectly. You could hear every instrument and all vocals equally. Their audio engineer has their sound dialed in. This also goes for opener Christopher Cross who played a 45-minute hit-laden set, including “Sailing,” “Ride Like the Wind,” and others.
I’ve been to countless concerts but Toto is the best live act I’ve seen. Their musicianship is like no other and they’re amazing at jamming while keeping the crowd entertained. They are the ultimate jam band without overdoing it. They packed 12 songs into a 90-minute set which will go down as one of my favorites.
